"The weather has been getting colder and colder lately, even colder than last year. I was worried that the sweet potatoes might not be able to withstand the cold. After all, this is the first time we've handled this, and we're not sure what to do, so I came to check on them. Madam Lin, how are the sweet potatoes being stored? May I take a look?"
Magistrate Tang didn't directly ask to see it, but made the request in a very tactful way. As for whether he would agree or not, that would depend on whether Yue Jiuyue and the others would agree. After all, compared to him, a novice in farming, Yue Jiuyue and the others, who were experienced farmers, were more professional.
In his haste, Magistrate Tang forgot even the most basic pleasantries, which shows just how much he cared about Yue Jiuyue's sweet potatoes.
"The cellars for storing sweet potatoes were dug separately. Since it got cold, we were afraid that if we checked on them too often, the cold air would get in, so we haven't looked at them. But today the weather is nice, the sun is shining and it's warm, so let's take a look."
Could Yue Jiuyue refuse?
This is no joke!
Although she wasn't worried about the sweet potatoes having any problems, since the cellar was well-maintained and she had a backup plan in case of emergency—she could just buy some from the store—she only supplied water from one well a day and had savings, so she didn't feel bad about spending a little money.
But since the officials want to see it, she, an ordinary citizen, naturally has to comply. Otherwise, what else can she do?
reject?
If she dared to refuse, the clan elder would probably be the first to punish her.
It wasn't that the clan chief had any ulterior motives, like trying to flatter or fawn over someone. He was just worried that Yue Jiuyue was too naive and didn't know any better. If the county magistrate didn't take a look now, what if they found out the sweet potatoes were all frozen when it was time to cultivate the seedlings in the spring? Then it would all be Yue Jiuyue's family's responsibility!
This is someone who's been registered with the emperor. If things go wrong, they might not even have enough heads to go around!
Thinking of this, the clan leader suddenly felt a chill run down his neck, and he kept thanking himself that Yue Shi wasn't impulsive, otherwise...
The clan chief couldn't help but shudder.
The group went to the backyard. In the firewood shed in the southwest corner of the yard, Yue Jiuyue instructed her three sons to clear away the millet stalks, stones, and other debris covering the cellar entrance. After letting it ventilate for a while, she led the group inside.
This cellar is different from the previous cellars. The cellars that were dug before were all in the yard and dug into the ground. But the cellar that Yue Jiuyue had dug to store sweet potatoes was dug horizontally, right there in the north courtyard wall, with a hole about the height of a person dug out towards the back mountain.
The cellar was quite spacious, with several small holes on the left and right sides for storing different things. Some were for storing sweet potatoes, some for storing wheat, and others for storing cabbage and radishes. Most of their family's grain was stored in this cellar.
"This cellar is quite novel."
Magistrate Tang was deeply impressed. The cellar was as big as a courtyard, and the temperature inside was even higher than inside the house. It was difficult to even breathe inside. He wanted to appeal to all the villagers in the county to follow suit, so that many people in the villages under his jurisdiction would not freeze to death every year.
"It's quite novel!"
The clan chief, elders, and village head all nodded in agreement.
So that's how you dig a cellar? They've learned something! After seeing the magistrate off, they'll go dig one for their own homes too!
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